Questions
What are your fees? Do you take insurance?
Please see my Fees & Services page for information on fees and insurance.
Who do you work with?
My clients are typically adult individuals and couples, but I also do some work with adolescents and families. I’m always happy to provide referrals when I’m not a good fit for what someone is seeking help with, so if you’re not sure whether I can help, get in touch and we can discuss it.
Are you a doctor, and do you prescribe medication?
I am not a doctor (please call me Steve), so I am not able to prescribe medication.
What’s an MFT, anyway?
A Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) is a psychotherapist licensed by the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences. Obtaining an MFT license in California requires completion of a Master’s degree, 3,000 hours of supervised experience, and passing two rigorous exams. Don’t let the name “Marriage & Family Therapist” fool you - MFTs work with individuals, too! MFTs work primarily in the area of relationships. We are trained to help individuals, couples, and families to have better family and social relationships.
How do I know if I need therapy?
It’s not my place to say whether or not you ‘need’ therapy. That said, if you have problems or concerns in your life that have an impact on your relationships, and you’d like some help with resolving them, it’s likely that you would benefit from therapy. If you’re not sure whether or not psychotherapy is appropriate for you, I’d be happy to talk to you more about your current concerns and how therapy may or may not be right for you.
How often do you see clients?
Usually, clients have one session per week, but this varies - I work with my clients to determine the appropriate session frequency and length for their particular needs. For example, I’ve had clients who come in for office appointments twice a month, but do half-hour phone sessions on the weeks they don’t come in. My only rule is this: if what we’re doing isn’t working, we need to discuss doing something else.
When do you see clients?
I’m in my office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, and while my schedule varies by day, I have appointments as early as 9am and as late as 6:30pm. I also provide services via telephone and online, including shorter sessions, which is often an approach some of the professionals I work with find to be a good fit for their busy schedules.
How will we know if therapy is working?
I use a feedback system with my clients that helps me track whether the therapy process is effective or not. This helps identify what is and/or isn’t working about the process, and I use the feedback to help guide my approach with each particular client.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered on this page, please get in touch - I’ll be happy to answer them for you.